Nursing professional development department

UMass Memorial Medical Center
Nursing Professional Development Department
Medication Administration Assessment
Study Guide

The Nursing Department at UMMMC requires successful completion of a medication administration
test by all nurses beginning employment at UMMMC prior to medication administration in the clinical
area. This study guide should help you prepare for the test.


Metric equivalents:
1 Kg = 2.2 Lbs
1 kilogram = 1000 Gms
1 gram = 1000 Mg
1 Mg = 1000 Micrograms
1 liter = 1000 Mls
One example of a Calculation Method:


H: The dosage on hand
V: The vehicle or the form which the drug comes (tab, capsule or liquid)
D: The desired dose
X: The unknown amount to be given
Cross multiply and solve for X
Intravenous Flow Rate:

V (volume) X C (drop factor) = R (rate of flow) C:\Users\kmiller\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\DG49NL84\2012 med test study guide.doc
Sample problems:
1. Patient ordered to receive 75 Mg of Lopressor. Available are 50 Mg tablets. How many tablets
should be administered?
50 Mg = 75 Mg
1 tab X
75 (1) = 50 X
X = 1.5 tabs

2. Patient ordered to receive a 5500 unit Heparin Bolus. On hand: Heparin 10,000 units/10ml. How
many mls should be administered?
10000 units = 5500 units
10 mls X
5500 (10) = 10000 X
X = 5.5 mls

3. A 220 lb patient is ordered to receive a Heparin bolus of 80 units/Kg. How much Heparin should be
given?
Step 1: Convert pounds to Kg (1 Kg = 2.2 lbs)
2.2 lbs = 220 lbs
1 Kg X
220 (1) = 2.2X
X = 100 Kg
Step 2: Multiply 80 units times weight in Kg: 80 (100) = 8000 units

4. The order is give Lactated Ringer’s IV at 150 mL/hour. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL.
V xC = 150mL / 60 min x 15 gtt/mL = 150 gtt / 4 min = 37.5 gtt/ min = 38 gtt/min
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Practice Problems
1. Patient is ordered to receive 45 Mg of po Cardiazem. Available are 30 Mg tablets. What do you
administer?
2. A patient is ordered to receive 7.5 Mg of IV Lopressor. On hand are 5mg/ml vials. How many ml
would you draw up?
3. An IV bolus of 500 ml of normal saline is ordered to run over 4 hours. What is the hourly rate for
the infusion pump?
4. Give 1 liter of normal saline over 8 hours. The drop rate is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate gtts per minute.
5. A patient is ordered to receive 3 Mg of Morphine. Available are vials of Morphine 10 Mg/ml. What
do you give the patient?
In addition to reviewing calculations, please review general principles for safe administration
of medication, including adverse effects, monitoring and antidotes. Please be familiar with
drug categories of common medications i.e. cardiac medications, insulin, pain and sedative
medications and antibiotics.

Thank You!
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